The Start-up J Curve

The Six Steps to Entrepreneurial Success

After founding or co-founding more than 15 start-ups and investing in another 50 as an angel investor, I came to understand that a startup unfolds in a predictable pattern. The more aware entrepreneurs are of this pattern, the better able they will be to capitalize on it. I call this pattern the J Curve.

There are six stages to the curve and this book will help you focus on the specific tasks and goals that need to be accomplished for each stage. By nailing each stage, you save time and money and, more importantly, you greatly increase your chances of success.

I wrote The Start Up J Curve to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to get through the toughest times so they can reach the primary value creation that lies beyond.

Get the book here

Book Praise

I’ve been lucky to collaborate with Howard as an investor, advisor and co-founder – he’s made me a better entrepreneur, and by reading this book, he’ll make you one too.

- Sam ShankCEO, HotelTonight

…This, quite simply, is the most impressive, actionable, and valuable business book I have read in a very long time. It’s extraordinary. I read it in a single sitting. I’m ordering copies for my partners and executives….This is a incredibly valuable resource and an invaluable read. Wow.

--Eric SinowayCEO, The Worth Group/Worth Magazine

Howard Love is a deeply experienced entrepreneur and early stage investor. This book is a culmination of many years of seeing successes and failures, what works and what doesn’t. I highly recommend this book to entrepreneurs who want to make their own unique mistakes, rather than repeating the mistakes of others.

- Bill EricsonGeneral Partner, MOHR DAVIDOW

The J Curve is a must-read for any entrepreneur, whether first-time or seasoned! Howard’s genius is that he understands and empathizes with the entrepreneurial experience—and how humbling it can be – while also giving insight into and support as to why the challenges are of crucial benefit to the process of building a truly successful company. Entrepreneurs can use Howard’s practical insights to better understand the realistic stages to expect in starting a company in a way that is demystifying and empowering, and quite honestly, provides an appreciated element of sanity to the often crazed entrepreneurial experience. Highly recommend!

- Sara Sutton-FellCEO, FLEXJOBS

The Start-Up J Curve will train you how to get through your early business challenges, and get to the fun terrain that is sustained business growth as soon as possible.

-- Inc. Magazine

As I begin another “pivot” in my own business, I find myself wishing that Howard had written this book years ago…when I began my own entrepreneurial journey. It would have been a tremendous roadmap and guide for the many twists and turns I faced. The J Curve is a must-read for any aspiring entrepreneur, yet I am confident that start-up vets like myself will also find many new insights as well. Howard presents a fresh and spot-on approach to understanding the growth stages, and do’s / don’t’s for each stage, of the entrepreneurial process, all based on his own vast experience starting and backing multiple companies.

- Mark DivineFounder of SEALFIT, The Coronado Brewing Company, NavySEALS.com, and NYT Best Selling author of The Way of the SEAL and Unbeatable Mind

Howard gives you an invaluable framework for understanding where you are with your startup and how to progress to success.

- Pete FlintCo-Founder of Trulia

Howard’s book is engaging, thought provoking, insightful and easy to read. Founders will relate to the tangible stories and examples. This book is fuel to accelerate up the curve to success.

Tools

The Start-Up J Curve Perfect Pitch Deck

As an angel investor who has invested in over 50 startup over the past 20 years, I’ve been pitched many hundreds of times. Almost all of those pitches had very real flaws that were quickly obvious during the pitch and would be obvious to any trained investor. As a result of the flaws, we would end up wasting precious time that could have been better spent getting to know the founder and their business better. So I decided to do something about it and created, with the help of other prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalists, a simple template that founders could use to create the perfect pitch deck. I can’t guarantee you’ll get funded with this, but I can guarantee that your odds will go way up and that the investors you are pitching will respect and appreciate your thoughtfulness and professionalism. Download it for free here and good luck with your pitch!

Love was born in Detroit in 1960, and attended Phillips Exeter Academy (1974-1978) and Colgate University (1978-1983). He completed his first Ironman competition at the age of 51 in Lake Placid, NY. His first book The J Curve for Start-Ups will be published by Greenleaf Book Group in the fall of 2016. Love resides in Silicon Valley, CA.

Howard Love’s Blog

The Power Law has become a widely accepted reality in venture, particularly as it applies to a classic venture portfolio. While it may be an important factor when understanding future or past venture returns, I think it’s a mistake to extend it to all forms of venture, especially angel investing. At the risk of oversimplifying, […]

http://www.howardlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ThinkstockPhotos-496070730.jpg19982999Howard Lovehttp://www.howardlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/darkLogo-300x103.pngHoward Love2016-10-24 09:14:092016-10-24 09:29:52Angel Investing and the Power Law

Today is the official launch date of my book, “The Start-Up J Curve”, so I thought it would be a good day to share something which can greatly benefit most start-ups – and especially those who are looking to raise money. I call it The Start-Up J Curve Perfect Pitch Deck. My venture partner, David […]

Recently the Dollar Shave Club was bought by Unilever for one billion dollars. I know many will think “why didn’t I have that idea?” However, perhaps a more productive thought is “how could I come up with an idea like that?” Well, it may sound far fetched but I actually do believe that you can. […]